Devine had a team-high 18 kills to go along with 18 digs for her 12th double-double of the season. Meanwhile, Rice added 13 kills and a team-high 19 digs for her second double-double of the season. The Bucs improve to 13-14 overall and 6-5 in the A-Sun, while USC Upstate falls to 8-19 and 2-9 in league play. The victory by the Bucs also got them one step closer to clinching a spot in this month’s Atlantic Sun Championship.

Meredith Hardy (Kingsport, Tenn.) had 13 kills on .357 hitting along with five blocks and two digs. McKayla Barber (Columbus, Ind.) also had double-digit kills as she added 10. Kayla Williams (El Paso, Texas) and Jamie Rutledge (Kingsport, Tenn.) split time at the setter position to dish out a combined 49 assists. Kiley Tamblyn (Torrance, Calif.) and Katie Muey (Alexandria, Ind.) contributed to the ETSU defensive efforts with 14 digs and 12 digs, respectively.

ETSU out-blocked USC Upstate 10-2, while the Bucs also out-hit the Spartans .244 to .176.

USC Upstate got off to a quick 9-6 start in the opening set, but four straight kills by ETSU put the Bucs up 10-9. After the Spartans tied the score on the next point, the Bucs won the next two points to take a 12-10 lead. ETSU extended the lead to three at 16-13, but USC Upstate reeled off three straight to tie the score at 16. The Bucs regained the lead at 17-16, but the Spartans went on another 3-0 run to take a 19-17 lead, forcing an ETSU timeout. The Bucs got within one, but the Spartans took four of the last five points to take the set, 25-20. Upstate out-hit ETSU .372 to .180 in the set.

ETSU got off to an early 10-8 advantage in the second set; however, USC Upstate quickly turned the two point deficit into a one point advantage at 11-10. The Spartans extended the lead to three at 14-11, but ETSU went on a quick 6-0 run to take the 17-14 lead. USC Upstate got within one on several occasions but the Spartans could not manage to even the score until an ETSU error tied the score at 21. After an ETSU timeout, the Bucs reeled off three straight points to earn set point at 24-21. The Spartans went on a 3-0 run of their own to tie the score at 24, but a kill by Hardy and a USC Upstate error gave the Bucs the set, 26-24.

It was all ETSU to open the third set as the Bucs got out to a 10-2 lead. USC Upstate never cut into the lead as ETSU cruised to a 25-17 victory. ETSU out-hit USC Upstate .364 to .023 as the Bucs only recorded one error in the set.

ETSU got out to a quick 5-2 lead in the fourth set, but USC Upstate eventually cut into the lead to take a 7-6 lead. The Spartans had the lead until the Bucs tied it up at 17 after an Upstate attack error. ETSU regained the lead on the very next point as a Hardy block put the Bucs up 18-17. The two teams traded points until the Spartans grabbed a 20-19 lead. ETSU went on a crucial 5-0 run to earn match point at 24-20. After two straight points by the Spartans, ETSU closed the match with a kill by Williams.

Mindy Quimby and Morgan Thomas had 18 kills and 17 kills, respectively, to lead USC Upstate. Meanwhile, Morgan Page led the Spartans with a match-high 28 digs.

ETSU returns home for the final two matches of the regular season on Friday and Saturday. The Bucs host Lipscomb on Friday at 7 p.m. before taking on Belmont for Senior Day at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information on ETSU volleyball please visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the volleyball link.